Simbang Gabi Advent Novena of Masses anticipates joy of Christmas
Participants gather with Bishop Louis Tylka for a photo following the initial 2024 Simbang Gabi Novena Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral on Saturday, Dec. 14. The other eight Masses to complete the novena were scheduled at various Peoria-area parishes Dec. 15-22.
One of the most cherished Christmas traditions in the Philippines, the practice of celebrating a Simbang Gabi (“Night Mass”) Novena of Masses has been carried on by many Filipino communities here in the U.S.
This year, 2024, is the third year of Sambaing Gabi in Peoria since the tradition was revived locally in 2022.
Bishop Louis Tylka participated in Simbang Gabi at his former parish in Chicago. Together with the Franciscan Apostolic Sisters, he was pleased to support the revival of the novena in the Diocese of Peoria.
What a beautiful image . . . that God is going to sing over those he has saved.” – Bishop Louis Tylka, on why Advent is a joyful wait
LOOKING TOWARD REALITY WE KNOW
Furthermore, he hoped that each of the nine nights of the novena could be celebrated in different parishes across the Peoria area. His desire was to mobilize the faith experience of the Filipino community, and invite other parishioners to join in.
In his homily for the first novena Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral on Saturday, Dec. 14, Bishop Tylka observed that joyful expectation is particularly justified during Advent:
“Even though we gather in a novena of Masses in anticipation, in expectation of the coming of Christmas . . . . we’re looking toward a reality that we already know.”
He referenced the first reading of the day, “What a beautiful image . . . that God is going to sing over those he has saved.” (Zephaniah 3:17)
“It is good to prepare for Christmas, but it is also really good to never lose sight of what has already happened . . . that Jesus has saved us – that God sings over us.”
2024 SIMBANG GABI PEORIA-AREA NOVENA MASS SCHEDULE
Saturday, Dec. 14, 5 p.m. – St. Mary’s Cathedral, Peoria (Bishop Louis Tylka)
Sunday, Dec. 15, 5 p.m. – St. Anthony, Bartonville (Father Charles Klamut)
Monday, Dec. 16, 5.p.m. – St. Joseph, Peoria (Father Bill Miller)
Tuesday, Dec. 17, 6 p.m. – St. Mark, Peoria (Father Robert Lampitt)
Wednesday, Dec. 18, 6 p.m. – Blessed Sacrament, Morton (Father Adam Cesarek)
Thursday, Dec. 19, 6 p.m. – St. Thomas, Peoria Heights (Msgr. Jason Gray)
Friday, Dec. 20, 5 p.m. – St. Vincent de Paul, Peoria (Father Stephen Willard)
Saturday, Dec. 21, 6:30 p.m. – St. Philomena (Father Luke Spannagel)
Sunday, Dec. 22, 4 p.m. – Holy Family, Peoria (Father Greg Jozefiak)
